SanDisk adds expansion slot to Sansa Clip+

The Sansa Clip, a very full featured alternative to the iPod Shuffle, just got more useful.

SanDisk

Now with a microSD card slot

SanDisk announced today that the next generation of the line, the Sansa Clip+, will include an expansion slot that can support microSD cards that can currently go up to 16GB. That means on the most expensive Sansa Clip+, the $69.99 8GB version, you can get up to 24GB of storage by adding a microSD card.

This comes with much the same form factor as previous Sansa Clips. You have the clip, the small OLED screen and the tiny size though the controls have been upgraded and moved around in some cases to make room for the expansion slot. You still get an FM radio and the ability to record voice memos. You pay for it, though, with a battery life of just 15 hours.

SanDisk said this is the first MP3 device that’s certified for Windows 7 so it should be easy to sync music back and forth with new Win 7 PCs. You also get support for music download services like Rhapsody and Napster. And the Sansa Clip+ can also play pre-programmed SlotMusic and SlotRadio cards from SanDisk.

While the 4GB iPod Shuffle has only gotten smaller, the Sansa Clip+ travels a different route, looking to pack in features that the Shuffle can’t match. With the addition of a microSD slot, Sansa Clip+ has another bragging point over its Apple counterpart.

The Sansa Clip+ is available now starting at $39.99 for a 2GB model, $49.99 for a 4GB version and $69.99 for an 8GB unit. A 4GB iPod Shuffle sells for $79.

So does this add any more pressure on Apple? Are you enticed by the upgraded Sansa Clip+?